When I first came to Edinburgh, the Liquid Room was a standard student fixture with regular indie nights. Evol still runs on a Friday night to this day. It blended into the crowd on Victoria Street winding down into the drunken rambles of the Grassmarket. Over the years it has changed a number of times and established a reputation as one of the best nights out in town. Whatever your taste in music, you’ll find a night here that caters to you.

The Liquid Room Main Dance Floor — Photo courtesy of The Liquid Room

As you descend the steps into the club, you’d be forgiven for being a bit apprehensive. The main dance floor and bar get insanely busy on nights when the club plays host to a big band or DJ. Smashing Pumpkins, Moby and Coldplay have all played here, and September 2012 saw Carl Cox mixing it up for a frenzied crowd. If you head upstairs you’ll find some seating and a generally less crowded bar. Out back there’s a smoking garden with heaters and plenty of seats. On really big nights the spin-off club, the Annexe, is used as a second dance floor and it has its own seating and bar.

During the week, the club is quiet and mainly attracts students. On the weekends it generally fills up with a more eclectic crowd. It’s fairly small and it can feel claustrophobic, but that’s part of the charm, and it helps build a real atmosphere. You haven’t really experienced Edinburgh’s nightlife until you’ve had at least one night out at the Liquid Room.